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Steps Toward Advancing Research (STAR)@UTEP Grant Writing Workshop – 2025-2026

Request for Applications (RFA)

Research & Innovation (R&I) announces Steps Toward Advancing Research (STAR)@UTEP Grant Writing Workshop. This program equips UTEP faculty with the tools to develop competitive proposals for submission to major funding agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). STAR@UTEP combines intensive grant-writing training with individualized coaching from nationally recognized experts.

Purpose

Facilitated by the NRMN-STAR Coaching Group, the STAR@UTEP program is designed to strengthen faculty research competitiveness through intensive grant-writing training and targeted professional development. Participants receive both group-based and one-on-one sessions focused on producing strong, fundable proposals. Participants will engage with leading experts in their fields, receive tailored preparation for meetings with program officers, and learn best practices for identifying and contacting them.

Key Program Features

  • Individualized Coaching
    • In-person guidance from experienced grant writers focused on strengthening your proposal.
  • Access to Subject Matter Experts
    • Targeted feedback from content experts aligned with participant’s research area.
  • Collaborative Writing Environment
  • Structured writing sessions with peer faculty to foster accountability and momentum. Hybrid Delivery.
    • Virtual and in-person sessions that support the full proposal cycle, from concept to submission.
    • Professional Growth
  • Workshops on essential topics such as proposal strategy aligned with agency priorities, review expectations, and broader impact.

Timeline

  • Application Opens: Monday, August 4, 2025
  • Application Due: Sunday, September 7, 2025
  • Participant Selection & Notification: TBD
  • Program Duration: September 2025 to May 2026

Designed to support participants’ progress toward grant submission, there are 4 full-day in-person workshops and shorter 5-day virtual sessions.

Below are tentative dates:

Date Format Modules Specific Activities
Friday, September 26, 2025 Virtual Orientation of Faculty to the Grant Writing Coaching Approach · Coaching Theory & Community of Practice
· Faculty & Coach Expectations
· Creative Writing & Professional Development: A Coach’s Perspective
Thursday, October 2, 2025 (Half-day) In-person Navigating the NIH & NSF Landscape · Organization (Institutes, Centers, and Offices)
· Grant Mechanisms: What They Are and How to Choose the Right One
· What are RFAs, PAR solicitations, and Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs)?
Friday, October 3, 2025 (Full-day cohort activities) In-person Inside the Study Section · How Reviewers Read, Score, and Discuss Your Grant Proposal
· When to Contact a Program Officer (PO)
· How to Respond to a Grant Critique
Thursday, November 20, 2025 Virtual Getting Started: Grant Preparation · NIH & NSF Search Tools
· Choosing & Requesting a Scientific Review Group
· Trainee Research Interest Discussion
· Developing a Research Question: Hypothesis Talk Exercise
Thursday, December 18, 2025 Virtual NIH & NSF Grant Structure (Scientific Documents)

· Specific Aims
· The Research Strategy:

  1. Significance
  2. Innovation
  3. Approach
  4. Investigator
Thursday, January 15, 2026 (Half-day) In-person NIH & NSF Accompanying Documents (Part I) · Cover Letter
· Abstract
· Narrative
· Facilities & Resources
· Equipment
· Budget
· Budget Justification
Friday, January 16, 2026 (Full-day cohort activities) In-person NIH & NSF Accompanying Documents (Part II) · Biosketch
· Bibliography
· Career Training Plan
· Letters of Support
· Resource Management & Sharing Plan
· IRB & IACUC Animal Use
· Responsible Conduct of Research
Thursday, February 12, 2026 Virtual Crafting Elements of the Specific Aims Page and Research Strategy Sections · Elements of a Good Specific Aims Page
· Creating Your Significance & Innovation Sections
· Developing Your Approach Section
Thursday, March 12, 2026 (Half-day) In-person Professional Development (Part I) · Individual Development Plan Exercise
Friday, March 13, 2026 (Full-day cohort activities) In-person Professional Development (Part II) · Negotiating the Tenure and Promotion Process
· The Importance of Writing Groups
· Alternative Sources of Funding
· Creating Effective Collaborations Activity
· Mentor Training & Professional Development Workshop
April (TBD), 2026 Virtual Institutional Resources · The Role of Your Institutional Office of Grants Management
· Library Resources
· CORE Facilities
Thursday, May 7, 2026 (Full-day) In-person Peer Review · MOCK Grant Review Session

Eligibility

UTEP faculty preparing grant proposals for submission to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or the National Science Foundation (NSF) are encouraged to apply. Participants must commit to full engagement in all program activities, including identifying a target funding opportunity and submitting a complete proposal by the end of the program or within 6 months after completion of the program. Faculty selected for the program will also work closely with the Research Development team to coordinate external review prior to submission.

 Application Process

Faculty interested in participating must apply through InfoReady by Sunday, September 7, 2025. The application includes the following:

  1. A statement of interest in the workshop.
  2. A commitment to prioritizing attendance at all meetings and completing associated work.
  3. The research area or topic you intend to develop.
  4. The agency you plan to submit to (NIH or NSF) and any specific funding opportunity announcement (FOA) you are targeting.

Selection Process

Applications will be evaluated based on the potential for developing a successful grant proposal. Priority will be given to faculty aiming for NIH or NSF submissions and demonstrating strong research motivation.

Contact Information

For more information about the STAR @ UTEP program or the application process, please contact researchdev@utep.edu.

About NRMN-STAR

NRMN-STAR’s coaching model anchors the program’s approach to grant writing and professional development. Coaches are senior faculty from across the country, each with a strong record of external funding and a commitment to mentoring early-stage investigators. Coaching teams are formed based on shared research interests, typically pairing one coach with two trainees.

Content coaches bring discipline-specific expertise that sharpens the quality and competitiveness of proposals. Program engagement begins with a two-day kickoff to learn the program’s structure and guiding principles.

From this orientation, coaches participate in a series of hybrid workshops, virtual and in-person, where they provide real-time feedback throughout the writing process.

Full-cohort sessions reinforce the team-based coaching model by fostering peer learning and cross-disciplinary exchange. These shared activities cultivate a collaborative environment and build a sustained community focused on long-term research success.

References

1. Implementation of The Steps Toward Academic Research (STAR) Fellowship Program to Promote Underrepresented Minority Faculty into Health Disparity Research. Vishwanatha JK, Jones HP. Ethn Dis. 2018 Feb 1;28(1):3-10. doi: 10.18865/ed.28.1.3. eCollection 2018 Winter. PMID: 29467560

2. Enhancing research careers: an example of a US national diversity-focused, grant-writing training and coaching experiment. Jones HP, McGee R, Weber-Main AM, Buchwald DS, Manson SM, Vishwanatha JK, Okuyemi KS. BMC Proc. 2017 Dec 4;11(Suppl 12):16. doi: 10.1186/s12919-017-0084-7. eCollection 2017. PMID: 29375659